Bob Ellis/staff photographer Vinnie Bellardini (22) of Cortland High, pushes the ball past a diving Jimmy Fazio of J-D on Saturday. Bellardini had a goal in a 5-2 CHS loss.

A three-goal halftime deficit was too much for the Cortland High boys’ soccer squad to overcome while making their first home turf appearance on Moiseichik Field Saturday.
Unbeaten visitor Jamesville-DeWitt came away with a 5-2 victory over the Purple Tigers in an OHSL Freedom Division match-up, dropping CHS to 2-2 in league play and 4-2 overall. Both losses have come against the Red Rams (7-0), who were 4-1 winners when the Puyrple Tigers paid a visit earlier this season.
CHS had a three-game winning streak halted.
Second half goals by Vinnie Bellardini and P.J. Mahar were part of a solid second half effort by Cortland, while goalie Chad Timmons kept the visitors from pulling away even more with 16 saves. Mahar also picked up an assist on the Bellardini tally.
Five different Red Rams netted goals in victory, Tom Lukow, Pable Martinex, Jimmy Fazio, Noel Williams and John Maroney getting into the well-balanced scoring act. J-D held a 22-7 shot edge.
“We put up two goals, and that’s good,” said Coach Brian Rozewski, his Purple Tigers trimming the deficit to 3-1 and 4-2 in the second half before J-D’s final tally arrived.
CORTLAND JVs scored first, but eventually lost to visiting Jamesville-DeWitt 4-2 at Barry Elementary School.
The Purple Tigers struck first when Blake Pace lofted a shot past the outstretched hands of the J-D keeper, Sage Brown providing the pass. The Red Rams took a 2-1 lead into half, a penalty kick the go-ahead goal after a handball call.
The visitors struck two minutes into the second half and led 4-1 when Cortland’s Christopher Engst-Mansilla scored off a free kick with five minutes to go to finish of the scoring.
“The penalty kick was an unfortunate break for the guys today,” said Coach Jason Moore, whose CHS squad lost 5-0 to Jamesville-DeWitt just 11 days ago. “We were frustrating J-D and had them on their heals and it looked like we would go into halftime tied.”
J-D held a slight 16-13 shot edge, as Corltand keeper Tracey Shelly finished with 11 saves.
“We were missing a couple players today but the team pulled together and played harder and did not give in,” said Cortland’s Moore. “As a result, outside middies Matt Anacelle and David Kalytyrik had their workload demand even more and they responded well. In addition, Sam Grant came on strong as a defender and contributed in stopping several J-D attacks.”
CHS squads host East Syracuse-Minoa on Tuesday at Moiseichik Field, the JVs starting at 5 p.m. with the varsity following at 7 p.m.